Gaskets or packing rings for journal boxes



Oct. 23, 1956 K. A. KLINGLER GAsxETs oR PACKING RINGS RoR JOURNAL BoxEs 4 Filed Nay 14, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 1v K. A. KLINGLER GASKETS OR PACKING RINGS FOR JOURNAL BOXES Filed May 14, 1955 4 Sheets-Shee't 2 7k fs WZ@ ai .npw Jm a ff a Oct. 23, 1956 K. A. KLINGLl-:R 2,768,012

GASKETS OR PACKING RNGS FOR JOURNAL BOXES I vFiled May 14, 1953 4 She'ets-Sheet 3 6 I 74 I V- 4 i795 oct. 23, 1956 K A KQNGLER 2,768,012

GASKETS OR PACKING RINGS FOR JOURNAL BOXES Filed May 14, 1955 @sheets-sheet 4 y I l Par/ref@ aar/er 'arzzeys United States Patent O GASKETS R PACKING RINGS FR JOURNAL BOXES Karl A. Klingler, Naperville, Ill. Application May 14, 1953, Serial No. 354,976

Claims. (Cl. 288-11) My invention relates to improvements in gaskets or packing rings associated with a railroad car axle and the inboard end of the journal box and has for one object to provide a gasket which will at the same time prevent entrance of dust, dirt, water or other foreign matter into, and will at the same time prevent loss of grease and oil from the box.

Figure l is a vertical section through a portion of the journal box taken in a plane which includes the axis of rotation of the journal;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section at right angles to Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section along the line similar to the section of Figure l of a slightly different form of the device;

Figure 5 is a section similar to Figure 4 with parts omitted, illustrating the packing ring before being applied upon an axle.

Figure 6 is a section along the line 6-6 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a side illustration of the packing ring shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6.

Figure 8 is a section, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 8 8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a detail section of a modied form of packing ring.

Like parts are indicated by like characters in the drawings and specifications.

It will be understood my invention is applicable to the usual type of railroad car axle journal box which includes a box, a brass adapted to ride on the axle journal, and a wedge adapted to hold the brass in position with respect to the box so that the load of the car is carried on the axle. My invention is intended to provide a packing means to encircle the axle or journal on the inboard end to close the journal box against the entry of foreign matter and against the escape of lubricant.

1 indicates the top, 2 the lower portion and 3 the side walls of the journal box. The front wall and its trap door, forming no part of the present invention, are not illustrated. 4 is the apertured back wall of the journal box, apertured to permit entrance of the wheel axle 5, the reduced or journal portion of the axle 6 being enclosed within the box. 7 is the brass, riding on the journal 6. 7a is the wedge or key, thrust between the brass 7 and the top of the box 1 to carry the load.

8 is a groove or channel defined by the wall 4, the flanges 9 and the journal box body. This groove 0r aperture is opened across the top of the box as at 9a and is standard with all usual journal boxes.

In the form shown in Figures l to 3, inclusive, I provide an annular rubber or rubber-like or elastomeric packing ring 10, exteriorly grooved at 11 to engage the flange 9 at bottom and sides and the shorter flange 12 at the top. This ring has a relatively thick portion 13 extending inwardly about its entire periphery into the ICC channel or groove 8 and also at its other side hasa portion extending outwardly on the outside of the ilanges 9 and 12, being held in position by the wire ring 14 so that this annular elastomeric ring or gasket snugly and permanently engages the flanges 9 and 12. The ring 14 is seated and retained in a groove 14a in the packing ring l@ and may be provided with a pair of expansion loops 14h as illustrated in Figures l, 2 and 3. The yielding ring 14 in its expanded position holds the gasket 10 outwardly against the flanges 9, 12 but may collapse centripetally to permit the gasket 10 to be inserted through the aperture deined by the anges 9, 12.V The position of the ring is such that the face of the ring, namely, that part of it to the left as shown in Figures 1 and 2, is perpendicular to the axis of an axle passing through an aperture in the ring.

Extending inwardly from this ring or gasket 10 is a ilexible element or web 15, 16, which flexible element carries the inclined journal engaging member or lip 17. In order to fit the standard contour of the aperture on the inboard side of the journal box, the web as at 1S is in part generally parallel with the axis of rotation of the journal and as at 16 generally perpendicular thereto. The etective width, however, of the web 15 and 16 between the ring 10 and the axle contacting member or lip 17 being substantially the same so that the relationship between the member 17 and the axle is substantially the same throughout.

1S is a metallic iiller plate socketed within the channel or groove 8 and backing up the packing ring 10. This plate on both vertical sides is of increased thickness, as at 19, to completely iill the groove 8, but where it is in register with the rubber packing ring 10, it is reduced in thickness, as indicated in Figure 2, to leave space for the packing ring. A handle 20 may be provided for easy withdrawal of the member 1S when the axle and journal have been withdrawn from the box, The plate 18 is apertured, as at 21, the aperture being oval and greater in vertical diameter than in horizontal diameter, as indicated in Figures l and 2.

The device shown in Figures 4 to 6, inclusive, is similar to the device above described, the basic difference between the two devices being that in Figures l to 3, inclusive, the elastomeric gasket is mounted on the anges 9 and 12, whereas in Figures 4 to 6, inclusive, the elastomeric gasket is mounted on the outer end 4 of the journal box.

25 is the elastomeric gasket mounted on the outboard end wall 4 of the journal box. A reinforcing member 26 may be cast in the gasket, or inlet into the gasket through a groove 27, as the case may be. Suffice it to say that this reinforcing member, generally uncompressible, is located just outside the wall 4 of the journal box and holds the elastomeric gasket at the outside in position with respect to the aperture in the journal box. This gasket 25 is, as indicated in Figures 4 and 5, provided with exterior grooves to engage the journal box wall 4. .lust inside the box the gasket is held in position by the spring ring 28 engaging a groove 29 in the gasket, thus providing a snug t and holding the gasket in close, tight relationship with the apertured journal box end wall.

Extending inwardly from the ring or gasket 25 is a radial web 30 which terminates in a sleeve 31 engaging the axle in two spaced annular areas as indicated at 32, 33. The annular clearance 34 between areas 32, 33 may be filled with grease or other suitable dust inhibitor. The areas 32 and 33, both engaging the axle, insure that oil will not escape from and foreign matter will not enter the journal box.

35 is a ller plate similar to the plate 18 except that it does not completely encircle the axle as does the filler plate 18 backing up the ring 25, but because in this case the axle engaging portion 3l is outside of tie groove 8, the groove is closed by the elastomeric packing means 36 to prevent entrance or egress of any material through the top open portion of the groove S.

Because journal boxes are cast and not machined, there is always likelihood of rather substantial difference in dimensions of the diameter of the aperture in the iournal box end wall 4 and especially in the aperture which encircles the journal and therefore a substantial change in diameter of the ilange portion e: by the spring ring 28 may be necessary. This is provided by arranging the spring ring with a plurality of convolutions 37 and cutting away the elastomeric portion as indicated between the lines 38 so that the elastomeric ring may expand or contract under the influence of the spring ring 28 to fit snugly the hole in the end wall of the journal box, no matter what its dimensions may be.

Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, indicates a plurality of ribs backing up the radial portion 3u of the ring. These ribs give Le packing ring lateral stability and insure that as the axle moves longitudinally back and forth, as it well may, in the journal box, the movement of the axle contacting elements 32 and 33 will be so limited as to obviate the danger that the part 32 might be Vedged between the plate 35 and the axle. i use the term "elastomeric as a general term covering natural rubber, synthetic rubber or other compounds or materials which have in general the same physical characteristics as natural rubber.

I claim:

l. A sealing gasket of flexible elastomeric material for railroad car axle journal boxes and the like including an outer relatively thick peripheral ring having one plane face and grooved about its entire outer periphery, an apertured web extending inr-,fardly from said ring, thinner and more flexible than the ring, an integral lip encircling the aperture and inclined to said tace of the ring, the web being throughout a portion of its circumference parallel with said face and throughout a portion ci its circumference perpendicular with respect thereto.

2. A sealing gasket of tlexibie elastomeric material for railroad car axle journal boxes and the like including an outer relatively thiclf. peripheral ring having one plane face and grooved about its entire outer periphery, an apertured web extending inwardly from said ring, thinner and more llexible than the ring, an integral lip encircling the aperture and inclined to said face of the ring, the web being throughout a. portion of its circumference parallel with said face and throughout a portion et its circumference inclined perpendicular with respect thereto, the aperture in the web being generally circular and located eccentrically with respect to the peripheral ring.

3. A gasket of flexible, elastomeric material for railroad car axle journal boxes and the like, comprising a relatively stift outer ring of generally oval contour, grooved about its entire outer periphery, yielding centripetally collapsible reinforcing means generally co-extensive with the ring, at one side of the groove, adapted to hold the grooved portion of the ring in expanded position on a fixed support, a web extending inwardly from the ring, the web terminating at its inner periphery in a circular aperture eccentric with respect t0 the outer ring.

4. A gasket of lexible, elastomeric material for railroad car axle journal boxes and the like, comprising a relatively stiff outer ring of generally oval contour having one plane face and grooved about its entire outer periphery, yielding, centripetally, collapsible reinforcing means generally co-extensive with the ring, at one side of the groove, adapted to hold the grooved portion of the ring in expanded position on a fixed support, a web extending inwardly from the ring, the web being for a portion of its circumference parallel with said tace of the ring and for the remainder of its circumference being perpendicular with respect to said face of the ring, the web terminating at its inner periphery in an inclined portion defining a central aperture eccentric with respect to the outer ring.

5. A gasket of ilexible, elastomeric material for railroad car axle journal boxes and the like comprising a relatively stiff outer ring of generally oval contour and having one plane tace and grooved about its entire outer periphery, yielding, centripetally, collapsible reinforcing means generally co-extensive with the ring, at one sido of thc groove, adapted to hol the grooved portion of the ring in expanded position on a fixed support, a web extending inwardly from the ring, the web being for a por' n of its circumference perpendicular with respect to said face and for a portion of its circumference parallel with said face and throughout its entire inner periphery deining a central aperture circular and eccentric with respect to the outer ring.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,683,449 Cremean Sept. 4, 1928 1,969,787 Farmer Aug. 14, 1934 1,983,522 Coultas Dec. ll, 1934 2,165,102 Kimball July 4, 1939 2,445,597 Bissell July 20, 1948 2,480,116 Brummer Aug. 30, 1949 2,647,777 Kostka Aug. 4, 1953 2,657,102 Johnson Oct. 27, 1953 2,668,067 Fitzsimmons `Tuly 11, 1954 

